Camera Info, fujifilm finepix s4000 ?

[Pipa]

Hi, i do apologise if this has already been asked in another topic but i searched for it and i couldn't find anything that helped me..

I want to buy a new camera.. my budget will only allow no more than £250, it will basically be used for photographing flowers/wild birds/my pets/insects around my garden, i know many people here are avid photographers and use expensive stuff, i just cant justify that right now for the use i would get from it

something easy to use that gives good results and not too much faff, i was looking at a fujifilm finepix s4000 does anyone know if this is a good camera? or if you know of any in my price range that are good cameras, a friend has been helping me and he found a decent camera the nikon coolpix l20 but it says u cant use the full zoom without a tripod..

i mainly want one that will give me nice crisp images with a good long zoom so i can get close up shots of birds and i also like to take close shots of flowers like the insides of lillies for example so if anyone has some good opinions so i can make up my mind i would appreciate it

[Lancashire Lad]

I haven't used the FinepixS4000, but I have owned two Finepix cameras - The S9600 and the HS10.

I don't doubt that the S4000 will be a very good camera - none of Fuji's Finepix bridge camera range have had bad reviews.

The only thing that I would draw to your attention as a possible problem or niggle, would be the fact that the S4000 doesn't have a separate (multifunction) control dial for changing aperture/shutterspeed/ exposure +- compensation etc.

This means that such settings have to be made with the four way toggle switch on the back of the camera, which takes longer and is undoubtedly more fiddly.

If I were you, I would go for a camera that does have the separate control dial - i.e. you will see two rotary dials on the top of the camera, one for setting Auto/Program/Aperture/Shutter Priority etc. etc., and the other for the actual exposure controls mentioned above.

If I were to suggest a such a camera in your £250.00 price range, I would without hesitation recommend the Finepix HS10. When it was first released about 18 months back, it cost over £400.00, but now can be had (even at high street stores such as Jessops) for not much more than £200.00 - (The big drop in price is due to the fact that it's successor the HS20, has recently been released, again at a cost of just over £400.00).

The HS10 is a superb stand alone camera, which I still use on a very regular basis. (And if you get into macro in a big way, with the addition of a Raynox supplementary lens added on the front, it is well capable of taking some seriously magnified macro shots)

The HS10 has the same 24-720mm equivalent long zoom as the S4000, (although with any lens having this amount of zoom, you will need a rock solid support at the long end of the telephoto range ), and overall is, in my opinion, a better specced camera all round.
Detailed review here: - Fujifilm FinePix HS10 Review | PhotographyBLOG

There have been a few threads on WAB where the HS10 has been discussed, so I won't go into any more detail here. You will easily find those threads by putting Fuji HS10 into WAB's search box.

Regards,
Mike.

[Lancashire Lad]

Just as an afterthought, perhaps one of the best features about the HS10, which cameras such as the S4000 don't have, is the fact that the zoom is controlled in normal 35mm/DSLR camera style, by simply rotating the lens mounted (rubber gripped) zoom ring.

Cameras such as the S4000 are zoomed in-out by using a tele-wide switch, which surrounds the shutter button. - The big problem with these, is that it is very hard to precisely compose the framing of a shot.

There is always the tendency to overshoot the required position. Whereas with rotating the lens assembly by hand, you never have this problem.

One more thing that I like about Fuji's Finepix range, is that they all take standard AA batteries rather than dedicated lithium-ion types. Get yourself two sets of AA Hybrid rechargeables, (use one set for spare), and you won't go wrong.

Yes, AA batteries need charging more often than Lithium-ion's would, but you aren't stuck with the manufacturer's own and inevitably high priced battery.

Regards,
Mike.

[Pipa]

thanks so much for the tips/advice, using AA batterys doens't really bother me so much, my old old Canon powershot had to use them

I was looking at the HS10 and HS20, sold some things on ebay so my budget went up a little, i heard tho the HS20 isn't much better than the HS10, but having never tried either i can't say myself so now im torn about the 10 or the 20

gosh, never made such a hard decision as buying a new camera

[Lancashire Lad]

Originally Posted by Pipa

....I was looking at the HS10 and HS20, sold some things on ebay so my budget went up a little, i heard tho the HS20 isn't much better than the HS10, but having never tried either i can't say myself so now im torn about the 10 or the 20....

The main difference between the two cameras is the 10Megapixel of the HS10, versus the 16Megapixel of the HS20 - But I honestly don't think that you will see any noticable difference in your shots unless you print them out at very large sizes. (Though admittedly, a larger number of pixels does give slightly more scope for cropping the image during post camera image editing).

Is that difference worth the extra £150.00 or so that you would need to add to get the HS20? I personally don't think so. I'd still go for the HS10, and use the additional money for a tripod, memory card(s) and maybe a Raynox 150 or 250 supplementary lens, a UV filter and a polarising filter, or maybe image editing software such as Paintshop Pro or Elements, or whatever other accessories you might have your sights on.

As both cameras are available at high street retailers, you could always have a look at both to see which one you prefer.

Here's a link to HS20 review so that you can compare it with the HS10 review posted earlier: -
Fujifilm FinePix HS20 EXR Review | PhotographyBLOG

Good luck with your choice.

Regards,
Mike.

[Dorts]

I have used the Fuji Finepix F70 EXR. Lots of options, settings etc. Good little lens and telephoto. Was very happy until, just after the guarantee ran out the auto-lens cover broke, fixed that then shortly after the telephoto lens would not retract.
So not very happy, though fully appreciate it was probably just a 'wrong-un'.
In that price range I would recommend a Canon of the Ixus type. Have had a Ixus 500 for many years as a 'happy-snapper' and it never lets you down.
Not sure what the nearest replacement is now, but worth a look.
Dorts.

[Pipa]

Originally Posted by Lancashire Lad

The main difference between the two cameras is the 10Megapixel of the HS10, versus the 16Megapixel of the HS20 - But I honestly don't think that you will see any noticable difference in your shots unless you print them out at very large sizes. (Though admittedly, a larger number of pixels does give slightly more scope for cropping the image during post camera image editing).

Is that difference worth the extra £150.00 or so that you would need to add to get the HS20? I personally don't think so. I'd still go for the HS10, and use the additional money for a tripod, memory card(s) and maybe a Raynox 150 or 250 supplementary lens, a UV filter and a polarising filter, or maybe image editing software such as Paintshop Pro or Elements, or whatever other accessories you might have your sights on.

As both cameras are available at high street retailers, you could always have a look at both to see which one you prefer.

Here's a link to HS20 review so that you can compare it with the HS10 review posted earlier: -
Fujifilm FinePix HS20 EXR Review | PhotographyBLOG

Good luck with your choice.

Regards,
Mike.

Thanks for the link with the review, i will check them out and have a good look about, I don't think it's worth the extra money either for the slight difference you get, a friend of mine also said the same thing, that there is not much diff, between the 2 for the price differences

[Pipa]

Originally Posted by Dorts

I have used the Fuji Finepix F70 EXR. Lots of options, settings etc. Good little lens and telephoto. Was very happy until, just after the guarantee ran out the auto-lens cover broke, fixed that then shortly after the telephoto lens would not retract.
So not very happy, though fully appreciate it was probably just a 'wrong-un'.
In that price range I would recommend a Canon of the Ixus type. Have had a Ixus 500 for many years as a 'happy-snapper' and it never lets you down.
Not sure what the nearest replacement is now, but worth a look.
Dorts.

thanks Dorts, at the moment i use a Canon ixus 105 which i must say gives me brilliant shots, IF i can get right next to the subject, the zoom on it is pretty small so that is where it lets me down, but its a fabulous little digi cam great for carrying around with you everywhere now i want something that will give me more zoom and more macro mainly and bit sharper quality pics

[Tringa]

Another thought is the Panasonic FZ range.

I have a FZ28, which is a few years old now, but is, within its limitations, a very good camera. The more recent models are fz45 and fz100.

For your price range a bridge camera, IMO, is the way to go and I am sure you will get a lot of enjoyment from it.

I suggest buying a few photo mags. Most have mini reviews of what is liked just now. This will help you narrow down your choice. Then have a look on the web for some in depth reviews.

There is no way that a bridge camera is going to compete with a DSLR system, but a single lens for a DSLR can be 5 (or more) times the price of a bridge camera.

Dave

[Firefox]

hi there, i all the experience i have had with Fuji bridge cams are really good, if you do get one i would reccoment the kiwi adapters and a raynox maro adapter, they only cost around 30 quid yet get amazing pictures, its almost the same qual as a regular macro lens. good luck anyway!